About Us

Ian Thomas is a dual-qualified lawyer practising in Ireland and in England and Wales (Gough Square Chambers, London www.goughsq.co.uk/barrister/ian-thomas/).

He was called to the Bar of England and Wales in 1993, admitted as a solicitor in Ireland in 2006 and in 2012 opened Ian Thomas Associates.

Ian lives near Dublin but travels extensively for work in the UK and the EU.

Ian’s main areas of practice are food and beverages, consumer products and consumer law, and health and safety.

In 2025, Ian was awarded a Master of Laws degree in food law having followed a course of part-time study.

His academic work includes being a Visiting Professor at Ulster University and a contributing lecturer to courses at Technological University Dublin and Wageningen University in the Netherlands.

Ian has written two books on food law, is writing chapters for forthcoming books on food law, including one being organised by Wageningen University.

He has presented at many conferences and Ian is a regular contributor to the European Food and Feed Law Review.

Ian also works as a consultant trainer with La Touche Training in Dublin.

Ian holds memberships of various organisations including the Society of Food Hygiene and Technology, the Food Law Group, the European Food Law Association, the Health and Safety Lawyers Association and the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health.

Outside of the law Ian enjoys watching rugby but sometimes experiences divided loyalties when Ireland plays England. Following rugby has enabled Ian to visit Marseille, Rome and Cardiff (following Ireland), as well as watching many matches at the Aviva stadium in Dublin. He also enjoys watching hurling and Gaelic football, particularly when Galway is playing.

In his advancing years, Ian has taken up French lessons again, in the wishful hope of retiring to the South of France (not sure if his wife or daughters are of the same mind though!).